Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 18 Isobel felt like her face would break if she continued to force a smile much longer and then there were her toes which ached from being stepped on and she hadn’t even danced yet. Numerous gentlemen who’d stopped to make her acquaintance had stepped closer than necessary and smiled down at her while making suggestive comments; luckily Sir Liam was beside her and was constantly keeping the odious lords moving. The ladies were worse many pausing in the line to ask none too subtly how she and her friends had made the acquaintance of the countess or been invited to the ball, every time she or her friends were faced with such obvious rudeness Sir Liam would intervene. Isobel could certainly understand why Valencia was in love with him. Roger, the countess’ butler appeared and gave her a nod as the last guest filed passed and stepped down into the ballroom where a small group of musicians was playing some little country tune while people milled about chatting and greeting each other. “That was the last of them, my lady,” Roger said. “It’s time for you to take your places my dears, now the fun begins,” Valencia said. Isobel exchanged looks with Bridgette and Sasha then stepped down the five steps to the ballroom floor, while Valencia stepped forward and one of the footmen used a long metal staff to strike the floor loudly three times bringing instant silence. “I would like to thank you all for coming as some of you may know I was born in Glomma, and tonight several of my countrymen are here seeking brides, they have heard of the lovely and accomplished young ladies at the college and asked to be introduced to them,” Valencia said and a ripple of murmurs went through the ballroom. “To protect them and the ladies their faces shall be hidden by masks and only the first initial of their names shall be used. At this time I ask all the young men in the room to don their masks, and for the single young ladies to line up along the front of the ballroom.” Another ripple of sound went through the room as the young lords pulled masks from their pockets to tie them about their faces and the single young women moved to stand along the edge of the ballroom. Isobel looked to her right and saw Bridgette give her a wink and Sasha a reassuring smile, next to her lady Laura pushed another girl hard and stepped into her place. Laura turned to give Isobel a look that would curdle milk as she examined Isobel from head to toe. “And where did you get that gown, you stole it no doubt, for I know you are poor.” Laura sneered. “My good friend Countess Valencia gave it to me,” Isobel replied and saw Laura’s face twist in anger, behind them Valencia cleared her throat loudly bringing silence. “If the rest of you would all back up please,” Valencia said earning murmurs and disapproving looks before people complied with her request. “The lady the gentlemen shall select shall be their partner for the length of the ball as well as their companion for the midnight supper.” Valencia nodded to her footmen who opened the doors at the far end of the room. The first gentleman to emerge was a tall blonde man with wide shoulders, who was impeccably dressed in black evening wear with a purple neckcloth. “Duke M of Glomma.” The footman announced and the gentleman strode into the ballroom making straight for the line of girls who began to whisper to each other as he approached. Duke M walked down the line of girls nodding to some as he passed as he approached Isobel he slowed and Lady Laura stepped forward a triumphant smile on her face, her hand outstretched and Duke M walked past her to stop and bow before Isobel. “My lady you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen would you do me the honor of accompanying me tonight.” Duke M said loudly bringing gasps and whispers from those in the ballroom. Isobel barely recognized Alex, his appearance had been so changed but she would recognize his towering height, broad shoulders, and blue eyes anywhere. With a smile and a nod, she slipped her hand into his while beside her Lady Laura made loud and inarticulate sounds reminding Isobel of a pig. “I would be delighted sir,” Isobel replied letting Alex lead her from the line and out onto the floor. Isobel felt all eyes on her as Alex took her hand and lead her to the top of the dance floor, then turned her to watch as the others entered the room. The footman cleared his throat loudly as a tall gentleman with reddish brown hair stepped into the door. “Count B.” Count B walked towards the line of young girls who all began whispering and nodding toward him, he gave some of them nods in return and slowed as he approached Bridgette. Lady Laura who was still standing a foot in front of the other girls stepped before him and held out her hand, to which he shook his head. “Excuse me.” He said his voice deep and gravely as he stepped about her to stop before Bridgette and execute a bow. Laura made a loud gasp and stepped back as Count B held his hand out to Bridgette. “My lady your beauty shines like a star on a dark night, would you do the honor of dancing with me?” Count B asked. “I would be honored to,” Bridgette replied as gasps and ripples went through the ballroom. Count B placed her hand on his arm and led her slowly down the middle of the ballroom to stop a few feet from Isobel and Duke M, at the back of the room the footman cleared his throat loudly. “Lord G.” He announced and everyone turned to see an elegantly dressed man step into the room. Lord G like the two lords before him walked slowly down the line of young ladies, ignoring Lady Laura as she tried to gain his attention and stopped before Sasha to execute an elegant bow. “My lady. you are as lovely as a rosebud, would you do a humble lord the honor of dancing with him?” Lord G asked holding out his hand. Sasha hesitated for a moment causing murmurers to pass around the ballroom, after a moment she nodded. “Thank you my lord I would be honored to.” Sasha slipped her hand into his and let him place it on his arm to lead her down the floor to join the others. One last time the footman cleared his throat. “Lord A.” He announced and an elegantly dressed man walked towards the line of young women. He slowed several times before stopping before a plain young woman in a light pink gown and held out his hand as he executed a perfect bow. Isobel smiled when she saw Lord A stop before Lucy and ask her to dance. Lucy was an orphan like herself and had been sent to the college by her guardian. Lucy was painfully shy but one of the kindest girls Isobel had ever met and a gifted alchemist. “You want me?” Lucy squeaked in surprise. “Yes my lady, I see your hidden beauty the way some would notice a poppy hidden in a field of daisies. Would you honor me with your presence?” Lord A asked. “Yes my lord, I would be delighted to,” Lucy replied taking his hand and letting him escort her into the center of the dance floor. “Will the remaining single gentlemen select their partners,” Roger said loudly and young men stepped forward to select the girl of their choice. After several minutes the couple paired off and moved onto the dance floor, and Roger nodded to the musicians. “We shall begin the ball with a waltz.” He stated and a moment later music filled the air. Alex had always known that Isobel was pretty but tonight she was radiantly beautiful, she outshone every other woman in the room. As the first strains of music began he pulled her into his arms and smiled down at her. “It’s me, Isobel,” Alex murmured as the waltz began. “I know, I would recognize you anywhere,” Isobel replied as Alex led her through the first steps of the waltz. “What happened to your hair?” “Sir Liam’s manservant changed it for me, it was more of a change than I was prepared for though,” Alex asked matching his much longer step to Isobel’s smaller one as he led her about the floor. “You did say you would change your appearance,” Isobel replied as Alex spun her about. “You look amazing by the way, truly amazing I have never seen a more beautiful woman than you, and to know that you are as lovely inside as you are outside and that you will soon be mine takes my breath away.” Alex said as he felt his heart swell with love for the tiny fairy creature in his arms. Isobel had never believed false flattery but tonight she could see the truth in Alex’s eyes and felt a lump in her throat, she had thought she had looked pretty but to hear Alex say she was beautiful meant the world to her. In Alex’s arms in her amazing gown, she felt truly beautiful and worthy of Alex’s love for the first time. The music ended and Alex whirled them to a stop but he didn’t remove his hands from Isobel as he should have, he gave her a grin and slowly removed them. “Would you like to dance again or to sit out this one?” “Dance please, it has been years since I was at a ball and the last time only one person asked me to dance, I was a wallflower the whole time,” Isobel replied. “Then dance we shall my love,” Alex murmured and swept her up again as a new waltz began. Isobel and Alex danced seven dances finally stopping because they were both winded and thirsty, Isobel’s hand on his arm he escorted her to the side of the room where Bridgette and Sasha had just been settled by their escorts on one of the large padded benches. Alex retrieved her a chair setting it beside Bridgette as his friends excused themselves to retrieve the girls’ lemonade. Once they had stepped out of hearing Bridgette leaned closer to Sasha. "I am surprised that you picked Giles." "I nearly didn't but I saw something in his eyes when he asked me to dance and what he said to me I knew he meant it. And I have more in common with him than Ahern, not that Ahern is not a handsome man." Sasha replied, she looked over to see Lucy beaning led to a chair by Ahern. "I am happy that he was free to ask Lucy, she deserves to be happy. I had introduced her to him at the market and she had liked him, and I mentioned to him how kind and clever she was." "You are a sly one," Bridgette replied. "Now that is an amusing look." Bridgette nodded across the room to another line of chairs where lady Laura sat beside several other young women from the college. As the girls watched two young nobles stepped to the girls beside her and asked them to dance, earning scowls from Laura. "She may be pretty outside but her heart is cold and black, if you look closely enough you can see it in her eyes. Besides after she was snubbed four times publicly do you think any of these men will risk asking her to dance? They all must be thinking what is wrong with her? I even saw Bertha out on the dance floor and she is far from pretty." Sasha replied earning a smile from her friends. "Yes you are right; I hope she will not cause trouble though you know how vindictive she can be," Isobel said as Alex and the others returned bearing cups of cold lemonade. Alex held the cup out to Isobel who gave him a nod of thanks. "What did I miss; you ladies have very conspiratorial looks," Alex asked as he sipped his punch. "Nothing really we are happy that Lord A asked Lady Lucy to dance tis all, she is a lovely and kind-hearted girl," Isobel replied. "And we were noticing that no one has asked Lady Laura to dance, probably because you all snubbed her. I do not think that has ever happened before, usually, she has but to bend her finger at a man and they come running." Sasha said finishing her lemonade and handing the empty cup back to Giles. "I hope that she does not cause trouble later, I'm sure even now she is plotting something evil," Bridgette said. "Surely you give her too much power," Bowman said taking Bridgett's empty cup from her. "No, you don't know her; she tried to get one of the stable workers fired because she could not seduce him. He was a nice young man, newlywed, and wanted nothing to do with her." Bridgette replied. “I was working with a sickly foal in the stables and she came in and tried flirting with him but he rebuffed her, the next day I heard him being accused of trying to force himself of Lady Laura. I of course stepped up to his defense, and as the head groomsman knew me he believed what I said, but the young stableman was let go anyway. I pestered the head groomsman till he gave the stable man a good recommendation and helped him obtain a new position, but still, she is evil.” “I stand corrected my dear. Would you care to dance more or perhaps take a walk I know the footmen will let us outside into the garden if we go out the side door?” Bowden asked putting his hand out to Bridgette. “Walk and talk, then more dancing, I wanted to ask your opinion on the duchess’ new draft horses,” Bridgette replied letting Bowden help her up. “An excellent idea, though I wanted to ask you if you have seen the water-powered work wheel in the duchess’s workhouse, I think I have an idea on how to make it work better and I wanted your thoughts,” Sasha said and frowned as Giles only stared at her for a moment. “Is something wrong? “No, no not at all it’s just that your beauty has so distracted my brain I was not paying attention; you said something about a water wheel?” Giles gave her a sheepish look as he held his hand out to her. “You are incorrigible I almost believe you,” Sasha said and then realized Giles was looking at her exposed cleavage and flushed. “Your pardon my lady, it’s just that it never truly occurred to me till tonight that you are a woman, I mean I know that you’re a woman. Oh blast, it’s just our conversations were always so engaging that, well.” Giles stammered and Sasha laughed. “You are forgiven, I was asking if you’d seen the water mill in the processing plant, I have an idea for improving its efficiency and I wanted your opinion.” Sasha gave Giles a smile as he placed her small hand on top of his arm. “Oh yes of course,” Giles said and Bowden laughed loudly as he placed Bridgette’s hand on his arm. “Just surrender my friend you’ll be happier once you have, come ladies if we sneak through the small room the footman shall let us out into the garden,” Bowman said giving Giles a grin. “That sounds wonderful do lead on,” Sasha said patting Giles on the arm and smiling up at him as he blushed deeper and nodded. Alex watched his friends go and smiled happy that they too had found love. He held his hand down to Isobel who took it with a smile. “Come they are starting another waltz if you have rested enough.” “I am more than ready.” Isobel let Alex pull her up and then sweep her into his arms and onto the dance floor as the music swelled, happy in each other’s arms they didn’t notice the hateful looks that Lady Laura gave them or how her face twisted into a mask of evil. Alex and Isobel came to a breathless halt as they finished the country dance, Alex caught Isobel’s hand and tugged her away from the dance floor and through the doors into the small sitting room he’d hidden in before the ball. “What do you have in mind?” Isobel asked as Alex pulled her through another door and into a corridor and towards a set of French doors that looked out onto the garden. “This.” Alex caught Isobel’s chin with his hand and tilting her chin up covered her lips with his. Alex slipped his hand behind Isobel’s back pulling her closer and forcing her back over his arm as he deepened the kiss. After several moments Alex broke the kiss but didn’t release Isobel, holding her close to him. “You truly look amazing tonight; I can’t wait till we are wed, would you like to take a walk in the garden.” “Nor can I, you make me feel such wicked things. They will ring the dinner gong soon if we go to the garden we must be quick or we shall be missed.” Isobel replied. Alex had just opened the door when he heard the click of heels on marble and stifled a curse, he motioned for Isobel to hide behind the curtain as he spun about to distract their uninvited guest, to his dismay Lady Laura stepped into the room. “Duke M is it not, my name is Lady Laura,” Laura said stepping boldly up to Alex. “My lady you should not be here, especially not without a chaperone.” Alex protested keeping his back to the open door so that Isobel would not be discovered. “Don’t be like that, I saw how you looked at me when you walked past me, you really wanted me the only reason you asked that Isobel creature to dance is because she is the Countess’ new pet and the countess put you up to it,” Laura said advancing on Alex who quickly sidestepped her putting a chair between them. “You know I’m beautiful and she is nothing but a frumpy little nobody.” Alex frowned and shook his head. “You are mistaken I asked Lady Isobel to dance because I wished to, because I find her both beautiful and delightful. Now you really should return to the ballroom.” “No, I don’t believe you once we have kissed you will see that I am the girl you want and then we can be wed.” Laura moved closer reaching past the chair for Alex who sidestepped her again trying to keep her at arm’s length. Isobel gritted her teeth in annoyance at what she heard, she longed to turn around and look but to do so might give away the fact she was in hiding, through the window pane she saw Marcus and Vi step closer and give her a puzzled look. She motioned frantically for them to step closer, then pointed at the open door, as she heard Alex once again tell Laura to leave him alone. Behind Marcus and Vi, she could see Bowman, Giles, and her friends who were now being waved over by Marcus. “Take your hands off me, I have never touched a woman in anger before Lady Laura but if you don’t remove your hands from me I shall be forced to.” Alex’s voice rang loudly and forced Isobel to act, she pushed the door open wide to encourage the others inside and stepped from behind the curtain to find Laura with her hands clasped tightly about Alex’s lapels standing on tiptoe trying to kiss him while he was trying to get free without touching her. “Take your damn hands off him now.” Isobel snapped and Laura jerked back in surprise as Marcus, Vi and the others stepped into the room behind her. “You have no right to speak to me that way, the duke and I wished to be alone, he has just asked me to marry him,” Laura replied with a sneer. “I most certainly did not,” Alex replied stepping back. “You are lying I was standing by the door and heard everything that happened, he asked you to leave him alone.” Isobel retorted, “Aye, you be lying all right miss we were by the door and heard him clearly say to leave him alone,” Marcus added stepping up to Isobel. In the distance, a gong sounded summoning everybody to supper, and Laura’s face twisted in rage. “No one will believe you, I shall tell everyone he asked seduced me and ruined me, and he shall have to wed me.” Laura slapped herself hard across the face and then ran from the room leaving momentary silence in her wake. “I apologize for doubting you my love, that girl is mad and evil,” Bowden said earning nods from the others. “Aye mad but trouble,” Giles added. “What can she do other than spread lies that no one will believe, come let us go eat she has already ruined enough of my night I won’t let her ruin anymore.” Alex held his hand out to Isobel who crossed to his side. “I hope you are right, but I fear she will cause us trouble yet,” Isobel replied. “Let her I have seen battle several times what can one girl do?” Alex asked stepping up to the door of the ballroom holding it open for the others. “You shall see for you don’t know her as I do, but you are right let us forget her for now and enjoy our supper and the night,” Isobel replied though in her heart she was afraid that Laura could destroy her newfound happiness.